David Beckham

David Beckham is probably our biggest icon. He's England's most prized footballer, he's one half of Britain's most famous showbiz couple, he's a doting father and his hairstyles are recreated up and down the country. And his appeal has helped companies everywhere to promote their wares.

It is almost impossible to go anywhere these days without seeing Beckham's image on a poster, billboard, magazine or newspaper. He is the face of Police sunglasses, promotes Adidas, endorses Pepsi, is a model for Brylcreem hair products and is helping to develop a computer game in his name. He has also designed a children's clothing range for Marks and Spencer.

Now the captain of England and Manchester United football teams has signed a deal with Vodafone - rumoured to be worth £1 million - to endorse its new Live! service. He will star in a worldwide televison advert - also featuring Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher - to promote the new cameraphone.

Born in Leytonstone, 27-year-old Beckham joined Manchester United at the tender age of 14 and made his England debut in 1996. He could have been any footballer with enough talent to play for his country, so why is Beckham now one of the world's adored stars ?

I think part of Beckham's appeal is the fact that we actually know very little about him. What makes him so perfect is that he's almost like a blank slate. He says so little and does so little, his fans create their own little version of David Beckham. We do all the work, we can project on to him our fantasies. Even now, he still only really talks about football, he doesn't give his own views so this in turn intrigues both the public and the media who have now elevated him to his current worshipped status.

No other athlete has been as famous in history as Beckham is now - he even reached the top 15 in the most 100 famous britons of all time list which was publicised recently. There are people who are admired and respected but the thing about Beckham is people adore him - he has this kind of captivating god-like quality.

Beckham hasn't always been so adored. His red card in a crucial World Cup match against Argentina saw him become the most vilified man in England. However, he eventually turned this round to his advantage. It gave him so much coverage and all people were talking about was 'Beckham, Beckham, Beckham' and what he did was very clever. He never said anything and he became an enigma.

Now those days are gone, an important factor in Beckham's success is that he appeals to everyone. From sports fans who celebrate his skills on the field to those who admire him for his own individual fashion statements - the most memorable being the sarong incident in the south of France.

And you don't need to know about sport to warm to him. Beckham's marriage to former Spice Girl Victoria Adams and his relationship with his two sons, Brooklyn and Romeo, also lift him above the status of the average footballer. Footballers are generally known for getting drunk and bad behaviour but Beckham is whiter than white. I definately think Victoria played an important part in elevating his appeal.

He's a hero for the kids and he's stylish from the point of view of women and he's someone the dads like as well. He has a lot of positive values associated with him, trendy, cool, street-wise. He's got such a wide appeal, people can't go wrong with him at the moment.

Despite having said all of this, fans may become bored with Beckham's squeaky clean, family image. He's got to be very careful with his image - at one point you just got so sick with his and Posh's relationship being public although they've toned it down a bit lately.

Consumers are very fickle and change their allegiances, you've got this guy Wayne Rooney now from Everton who could be flavour of the month this time next year. In the culture in which we live there's a high turnover of celebrities. Beckham will still be up there as a great footballer but will he still have the god-like status in a year or two ??? Nah I dont think so !

With regards to the current problems the Beckham's are having with kidnap revelations, I have little sympathy because they are the ones that welcomed and encouraged the focus and interest in themselves. I know that doesn't make it right but there only escape now could be a move abroad.

But whatever happens in the future for Beckham, for the time being we can be safe in the knowledge that his face will be projected from every spare surface available, selling us everything from shoes to sunglasses.

1991: Signed for Manchester United as a trainee

1992: FA Youth Cup winners, First team debut in the Rumbelows Cup against Brighton H.A

1993: FA Youth Cup runners up, played five games on loan to Preston NE

1995: League debut against Leeds United

1996: Now a regular scores many goals and is part of the double winning team, also earns a first England cap against Moldova.

1997: Scores a goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon

1998: Premiership winner again and Champions league semi finals, also voted Young player of the year, part of the World Cup squad but sent off in the second round against Argentina.

1999: Part of the treble winning squad having his best ever season for Man Utd. Also marries Victoria Adams and baby Brooklyn is born.

2000: Premiership winner again. Voted Worlds and Europes second best player and also runner up in sports personality of year.

2001: Premiership winner yet again, skippers the National side for the first time and scores an amazing goal against Greece to qualify us for the World Cup.

2002: Breaks bone in foot and is below par in World Cup but still scores against Argentina to gain revenge. Second child Romeo is born.

Club appearances to date: 363
Club goals to date: 77
International caps to date: 56
International goals to date: 9

Thanks for the read
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WormVision2002